Power-transmission mechanism



APPLICATION FILED SEPR15| I919.

Reissued Mar. 2, 1920.

4 SHEE1S-SHEET I.

2 I A m w L .1. A. W, A. w w aw 4 \J 4 /I\ ...L \w ,H Q av. aw g4 m RH- .I W w W H. R. HOLMES, 'PO WER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 15. I919.

' Reissued M11112 H. R. HOLMES.

POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.- APPLICATION FILED SEPT. I5. 19m.

Reissued M 2,1920. 14,808.,

4 SHEETSSHET 3.

H. R. HOLMES. 7 POWER TRANSMISSION MECHAN|SM.

V I APPLICATlON FILED SEPT- 15. IQIB. Reissued Mar. 2, 1920. 14,808.

4 ISHEEIS-SHEET 0.

HARLEIGH R. HOLMES, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PowEn-TRANsriissIoN MECHANISM.

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissue QIar, 2, 1.920,

Original patent a continuation of application Serial No. 87.345, filed March 28, 1916. Original No. 1.289.763,

dated December 3., 1918, Serial No. 165,176. filed April 28. 1917. Application forreissue filed September 15, 1919. Serial No. 323,983.

To all whom it may com-(Pm:

lie it ltnown that I, llAIlLElGIl il'i. l'lUL.\lliS,

a citizen of the Fnited States. 1' siding at useful Illll'H'OYtllltllls in Power-Transmission Mechanisms; and I do declare the fol-' lowing to be a full, clear. and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilled in. the art to which it appertains to. make and use the same. reference being had to the. accompanying drawings, and to the characters of refere 'ice marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvennnts in power transmission inechanism,'being more especially intended for use in connection with automobiles, motorcycles, trucks. shal't ing, transmission reductions and stepups. and in many other relations where it is necessary or convenient to move the. axis of rotation of the driving or driven member with respect tothe other member.

In my improved constrm-tion. it is possible to hold the/driving member in a certain position and change the axis of rotation of the driven member about it. or to hold the driven member in a certain position and change the axis of rotation of the driving member within it.

,lower may also be applied to either one of these members, and in that case the other member would, of course. be the driven member. In other words, as a broad proposition, the two members ma be alternately emplo ved' to perform the driving and driven functions. I

The invention in this application which is for the most part a continuation of myv previous application, Serial No. 87,345, filed March 28th, 1916, will be described as up plied to the front wheels of an automobile, though it must be understood that the mechanism is by no means limited to this particular use.

Havinp briefly outlined the invention, as

' well as the function itis intended to subserve, I will proceed to describethe same in detail, reference being made to the ace'ompanying drawin in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation or a front view of the front wheels of an automobile connected by the axle, my improven'ient being; applied to both of said wheels.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken through the lnlb of one of the wheels to which my improvement is applied. the' section cutting the horizontal axis of the wheel longitudiually. the parts being:' shown on a much larger scale than in Fig. 1. This is a sectiin sitalwn on the line 2-2 Fig.

l g. 3 is a section taken through the hub of one of said wheels, cutting the horizontal axis of the wheel at right. angles. This is a section taken on the line ;5-3 Fig. looking toward the right.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the hub equipped with my improvement, taken'on the line i---l, l igr. 2.

Fig. 5') is a sectional view taken through the inn r cylindrical shell of my improvement. shown .in' connection with the e ve or yoke of the front axle housing, and also in connection with the turn table through the medium of .which the wheel isturned on its vertical axis for steering purposes.

Fig. ii is a vertical sectiontaken longitudinally through a vertically disposed ey- ,80 lindrieal member, which, when the parts are assembled, is passed through the openings formed in the top and bottom of the shell shown in Fig. 1

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view of a lock- 35 ing ring. which. when the parts'are assembled. is applied to the upper portion of the cylinder shown in Fig. v6.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the vertically disposed driven shaft equipped with its. pinions and also shown in connection with the upper ball bearing structure.

' Fig. 9 is a perspective detail view of the turn table member of my improved mechanism.

The same reference characters indicate the same. parts in all the views.

Let theiiumeral 5 designate the hub of the front wheel of an automobile considered in its entirety. The outer shell. 6 of this hub is mounted to rotate on hearing balls 7, the shell being provided with cone members 8 which directly engage the bearing balls, while the coopm-ating members 9 are threaded on the opposite ends-of the inner shell 10, the latter being provided with relatively large, openings 12 and 13 formed in the top and bottom'thereof respectively.

. shellis' a ring l-t which is horizontally dis.

' provided with a minimum of friction within posed within the cylindrical member as best llustrated in Fig. 5. This ring on two opposite sides is slightly cut away from the,

top downwardly to form a shoulder which engages the adjacent portions of the shell from below and locks the ring against further upward movement. The turntable member inserted in the shell 10 and is,

segmental or rocker shaped parts 16 which engage the curved surfaces of this shell and close the otherwise open spaces beneath the bottom of the ring formed by the curvature of the shell beneath the horizontally disposed ring. This ring maintains the turntable member 15 in proper cooperative 'relation with the inner shelh whereby during the turning of the wheel for steering purposes, the inner shell is caused to turn and by virtue of its connection with the outer shell of the hub, turns the latter and consequently the wheel for steering purposes. A crank arm 17 is seoured to one of the segments 16 of the turntable member as shown at 18 for steering purposes, this crank arm being connected by means of a rod 19 with the corresponding crank arm of the opposite wheel.

A hollow cylinder 20 is'positioned within the openings 12 and 13 of the inner shell 10 to occupy a yertical position or a position with its axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the wheel. The lower extremity of this cylinder is proVidet-lwith an exterior] y projecting flange 21 having a ball race in its upper surface which cotiperates with a corresponding race in. the lower surface of the ring 14, bearing balls i being located in the said races'and between the flange 21 and the said ring. By virtue? of this construction, the inner shell 10 carrying the ring 1+ as heretofore explained, is allowed to turn freely while the cylinder 20 remains stationary during the steering movement of the wheel. 1 g.

\Vithin the bottom or lower extremity of the cylinder 20, is secured'a bearing member 22,'its upper portion engaging a slightshoulder 23 on the c \-'linder, this bearing member being equipped with a ring 24 provided with ball races which coiipcrate with races formed in the bearing member 25 mounted on a vertically disposed shaft or spindle 26, hearing balls :27 being arranged between the bearing member of theshaft and the bearing member of the cylinder, whereby the shaft 26 is allowed to turn freely and with the cylinder where it is centrally disposed for the proper pcr'l'ormam'c of its function as hereinafter stated. The upper extremity of the shaft 21; is equipped with a pinion 27 which is secured thereto by means of a key 28. The upper portion of the shaft 26 .just below the surface of the gwhecl may be turned for steering formed in.

eye or yoke being com pinion 27 is equipped with abearing member '29 which, is fast thereon andprovided with ball races which coiiperate with races a bearing member 30 secured within a main bearing member 31, the latter I Between the bearing members 29 and 31, two sets of bearing balls 32 are arranged. Below the ball bearing structure just described and secured to the shaft 26 by means of a key 33, is a pinion 34 which meshes with a similar pinion 35 fast on the inner extremity of the driving shaft 36 of the automobile, said driving shaft being arranged within a cylindrical housing 37 within which is secured a bushing 38 by means of fastening rivets 3!) (see Fig. 2). The top pinion 27 of the shaft 26 is spaced from the bearing member 29 by a short sleeve 78, the last named bearing member being also spaced from the gear'ii-t by a similar sleeve 75); while a spacing sleeve lmusing. two sets of bearing balls A'being arranged between the said bearing members.-

The inner extremity of the housing 37 merges into a horizontally disposed cylindrical eye or yoke which fits closely around the vertically disposed cylinder 20, this eye on the opposite side from the inner extremity of the shaft 36 bcing.provided with an opening 4.? which. registers with an opening 46 fornual in the cylinder 20, the

meted with the cylin- 47, Fig. l. The lower cyc or yoke 50 is provided with a ball race 48 which cooperates with a similar race 41) formed in the upper surface of the turn table 15, bca ring balls 51 being arranged between the said eye or yoke and the turntable. By virtue of'this construc tion the turntable, together-with the inner shell 10, the outer shell ti aml the entire purposes der by a screw plug with a minimum of friction. I

The cylinder 20 Is secured mproper cooperative relation with the ring 14, bymeans of a locking ring 52, which is threaded on the upper portion of the cylinder above the cycor yoke 50. It will be understood that. when the structure is in .use in the relation herein specifically described, the yoke 50, to-

gethcr with the cylin(lcr t) and its connections. will be held relatively stationary during the steering movement. of the wheel. As

being, applied to and within the upper extremity of the cylinder 20.

- .chine,

shown in the drawing, the locking ring 52 is provided at suitable intervals with recesses 53 into one of which a locking device 5: may be inserted, when the ring is properly adjusted, the opposite end of the locking device being secred to the housing-37 by means of a stuc bolt 55 i The upper portions of the openings in the ends of t e inner shelllO. are close'dby a cylindrical member 56 which is inserted t rough the top opening 12 of the inner shell and made fast therein, bearing balls 57 being arranged in suitable race ways formed in the member 56 and the adjacent upper portion of the cylinder 20, whereby the friction between the structure turnedion the vertical axis for steering purposes, is further reduced.

Attention is called to the fact that the cylinder 20 has a relatively large opening 58 directly o osite the opening 46, the opening 58 being ofsufiicient size to make room for the inion hub 35.

T e 0 ening of the outer shell 6 on the in.- side an surrounding the inner shell 10, is closed by a ring 59 which surrounds the inner extremity of the shell 10 and is held in place by a retaining ring 60. The opening in the outer shell 6 is closed on the outside by means of a cover plate 61 which is held in place' by a retaining ring 62. This cover plate is outwardly curved from the end of the shell 6 (see Fig, 2). v

The pinion 27 which is fast upon the upper extremity of the vertically disposed shaft or spindle 26 as heretofore described, meshes with a large gear 72 which is secured to the outer shellfi by means of bolts or other suitable devices 63 which, as shown in the drawing. are passed through the inner bearing member 8 of the shell, as shown in Fig. 2.

When the structure isa front drive for automobiles which is the specific use heretofore described, as the shaft 36 is rotated through the medium of the power as an in ternal combustion engine carried by the marotary motion is transmitted to the vertical shaft 26 through the medium of the pinions 35 and 34, and since the pinion 27 also fast on the shaft 26. rotary motion is imparted throughthe medium of the large gear 72, to the wheel 64-. \Vhcn. however, it is necessary to turn the wheel on its vertical axis for steering purposes, the power through the medium of the rod 19 and the crank :27. is directly applied to the turn table nn-mlmr-lfi, whereby the inner shell 10, togctlu-r with the outer shell (I, and the entire \vlie'cl connected with said shell. are turned on the vertical axis of the wheel, while the sha t 2'3 and its conn i'etions, including the 'glimler 2th maintain their no mal position. 'a' tl'l r ferent-(to the shaft 36, the housing 9': and th yoke or eye 50. It will thus be seen that the power is applied to the wheel when shifted on its vertical, axis for steering purposes to the same advantage "as when the plane of the same at right angles to the driving shaft, or when themachine is running on a strai ht track. This is an important feature 0 my improved construction. In other words, the vertical axis of the wheel during the turning movement for steering purposes is'in a central position, and consequently the power is applied to equal advantage at all times.

I claim: I

1.' Transmission mechanism comprising a horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, a turntable in the bottom of the. shell, an axle having an eye mounted on said turntable, a vertical hollow pivoting member positioning said eye on said turntable, a vertical driving shaft n'iounted within the hollow pivot, extemling-thr'ough said shell, and having means on its 11 per end to engage and drive the hub, an driving means extending horizontally intoisaid eye to cngage and drive said "ertical driving shaft.

2. Transmission mechanism,comprising a horizontal shell, a hub rotatable about said shell, a turntable in the bottom of the shell, an axlehaving an eye mounted on said turntable, a vertical hollow pivoting member, positioning said eye .on said turntable, a vertical driving shaft mounted within the and having means'on its 11 per end, tO'CH gage and drive the hub, ancdriving means extending horizontally into said eye through said hollow pivoting member to engage and drive said vertical driving shaft. I,

3. Transmission mechanism, comprising a horizontal shell, a hubrotatable about; said shell, a turntable in the bottom of'the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on said turntable, a vertical hollow pivoting mem; her-positioning saideye onsaid turntable, a

vertical driving shaft mounted within the hollow pivot. extending through said shell.

, hollow pivot, extending thrpugh said shell and having means on its upper-end to en- 7 gage and drive the hub, and

driving means extendln g horizontally into said eye to engage and drive said vertical driving shaft,

the pivoting member being rotatable with the-eye. I

4-. Transmission mechanism, comprising-a hub, an annularly arranged shell positioned within the confines of the hub, the hub being mo'uhted to rotate around the shell, a"

shat-ft eentrally locate shell and havin'gits axis perpendicular to that of the shell, ma a)!- mountingthe, shaft within the'shell, another shaft whose axis is perpendicular to that 'of =the \firs t named shaft, and an operativedrivingcond' with reference to the nection between the two shafts and between i the first named shaft and the hub.

5. Mechanism of the class described, in-

eluding an outer shell, an inner annularly arranged shell positioned within the. con tines of said outer shell. the outer shell being mountedto rotate around the inner shell. means for supporting the inner shell within the outer-shell, a shafteentrally located with referenceto the inner shell and having its axis perpendicular to that of the said arranged shell. the outer sbcll being mounted to rotate around the inner shell, means for supporting the inner shell within the outer shell. a shaft centrally located with reference to the inner shell and having its axis perpendicular to that of the said shell, means for mounting said shaft within the. inner shell, another shaft whose axis is per pendicula'r, to that of the first named shaft.

-'and an operative gearing connection between the two shafts and between the first shaft and the outer shell.

7. A wheel having a hub includingan outer shell -and a shell annularly arranged within and spaced from the outer shell. and a connection between the two shells to allow the outer shell to rotate around the inbner shell on the common axis. while the inner shell remains stationary. and to allow the two shells to swing on an axis perpendicular to the normal axis of rotation of the outer shell.

8.-A -whccl having a hub including an outer shell. an inner. shell annularly arranged and spaced from the outer shell to allow the latter to rotate on the common axis while the inner shell remains relatively stationary, a hollow-cylinder disposed within the inner shell to cause its axis to occupy a position .perpemlicular to that of the two shells. and a connection between the cylinder and the inner shell to allow the two shells to swing on the axis of the cylinder while the latter remains stationary.

9. Mechanism of the class. described, including an outer cylindrical shell, an inner annularly arranged shell, a connection between the two shells to allow the outer shell to rotate on the common axis while the inner shell remains stationary, a cylinder disposed within the inner shell on an axis perpemlicular to that of said shell, a shaft disposed within the. cylinder and having a common axis, means for mounting the shaft within the cylinder to allow the shaft to rotate while'the cylinder remains stationary, an operative connection between the shaft and the outer shell to cause the latter to rotate on the axis common to the two shells,'and means for swinging the two shellson the axis of the said shaftwhile the shaft and cylinder remain relatively stationary.

10. In combination, an outer shell, an in' ner annularly arranged shell, a connection between the two shells to allowthe outer shell to rotate on the connnon axis While the inner shell remains relatively stationary, the inner shell having openings in the top and bottom thereof respectively, a horizontal ring mounted in and surrounding the bottom opening of the shellua turntable arranged above said ring and having segments fitting the inner curvature of the shell on opposite sides of the ring, a yoke arranged above the turntable, and means for connecting the cylinder to the yoke to allow the turntable and shell to swing on th! axis of the cylinder while the latter remains stationary.

11. In combination. an outershell, an inner shell annularly arranged." a connection between the two shells to allow the outer shell to rotate on the common axis while the inner shell remains stationary, the inner shell having openings formed in its top and bottom. respectively. a horizontal ring mounted in and surrounding the bottom opening of the shell, :1- t-urntable arranged above said ring and having segments fitting the inner curvature ofthe shell on opposite sides of the ring, a yoke arranged above the turntable. means for connecting the (3v 1- .inder with the yoke to allow the turlita 1e and shell toswi'ng on the axis of the cylinmounted on said turntable and means for re taming it thereon, and vertical drlving means within the eye to engage and rotate the hub. I

13. Transmission mechanism, compr1s1nga horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a removable turntable in the bottom of the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, a h0l low pivoting member positionin said eye on said' turntable, and vertica driving meanswithin the hollow pivoting member to engage and rotate the hub.

14. Transmission mechanism, comprising a horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a removable turntable in the bottom of the shell, an axle having an eye mounted gearing connection between the I on the turntable in pivotal relation, and a vertical drive shaft mounted Within the eye and extending to engage and drive the hub.

15. Transmission mechanism, comprising a horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a removable turntable in the bottom of the shell, an axle having an integral eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, and a vertical drive shaft mounted within the eye and extending to engage and drive the hub.

16. Transmission mechanism, comprising a horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabont, a bearing plate in the bottom of the shell, an axle having an integral eye mountedon said plate, and means for retaining it thereon, and vertical driving means within the eye to engage and rotate the hub.

17. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turn-table mounted within the shell and on the bottom thereof, an axle having an eye mounted on'the turntable in pivotal relation, and a vertical pivoting element:- extending through the" turntable and through the eye'to position the two members.

18. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, and a vet, tieal pivoting element extending through the turntable and through the eye to positionthu two members.

19. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable-in pivotal relation. and a pivoting member positioning said eye on the turntable, the said member and the eye being mounted in fixed relation with eaeh other. 20. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabi'mt. a removable turntable mounted within the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation. and a pivoting member positioning said eve on said turntable.

i-Zl. A horizontal shell, a. hub rotatable tla-reabout. a removable turntable mounted within the shell. an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal rela tion, and a pivoting member positioning said eve on said turntable, the eye and the pivoting member being in fixed relation with each other.

.22. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable therealmut, a bearing member within the shell and mounted on thebotlom thereof, an axle having an eye member mounted on the bearing member in pivotal relation, :1 bearing eonneetion between said members, a pivoting element extending through both a! said members, external bearing means on i 1 id of said pivoting element, a bearing Lion between said means and onev of said members, and adjustable retaining means on the other end of said element to take up for wear in said bearing connections.

. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable within the shell and mounted on the bottom ther-of, an axle having an eye pivotally mounted on the turntable, a bearing between said eye and turntable, a pivoting element extending through said turntable and said eye and rotatable' with the eye, an external flange on the lower end of said pivoting element, a bearing between said flange and the under portion of the turntable, and adjustable retaining means on the upper end of the pivoting member to take up for wear in said bearings.

24. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabont, a turntable positioned within the shell and mounted thereon, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, and a vertical pivoting element extending through the turntable and through the eye to position the two members.

25. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within and on the shell, an axle having aneye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, and a pivoting member positioning said eye onshell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal lelation, a pivoting member- )ositioning said eye on said turntable. a drive shaft extending through said axle, and a driving connection between said shaft and the hub.

28. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, :1 vertical pivoting element extending through the turntable and througlrthe eye to position the two members, a drive shaft extending through said axle, and a. driving connection between said shaft and the hub.

29. A horizontal shell, a hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within the shell, an axle having an eye mounted on the turntable in pivotal relation, a pivoting member positioning said eye on said turntable, a drive shaft to rotate said hub extending into said hub and 'shell, and a driving connection between said shaft and the hub.

30. A horizontal shell, a; hub rotatable thereabout, a turntable mounted within the shell, an, axle having an eyemoul'ited on the turntable in pivotal relation, 11 vertical pivoting element extending through the turntable and through the 'eye to position the two members, a drive shaft to rotate said lull). extending into Sill(l huh and shell, and

:1 driving connection between said shaft and the hub.-

Signed, at the cltyancl county of Denver, 10

State of Colorado, this 4th day of September, 1919.

HARLEIGH .R. 

